Nikkor 20mm f/2.8?

kris10jo

I'm looking at buying a wide angle prime, and I'm caught up in analysis paralysis. I'd like to use it for group/environmental and landscape shots. Right now, this is what I have, and I'd like to purchase a lens that will work on both a DX and eventually a Full Frame body (someday...):

Nikon D90
50mm f/1.4
35mm f/1.8
18-55mm
55-200mm

The 35mm doesn't quite do what I need it to for wide angle shots, and the kit lens isn't going to cut it in low light situations. Does anyone use wide angle primes? Does anyone have this particular lens? Is it worth the investment on a DX body?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/82946-USA/Nikon_1913_Super_Wide_Angle_AF.html

Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks a bunch in advance!

michswiss

I've had this lens for a while and think it works very well on a crop body. It became my preferred setup on the D300 for street shooting in lieu of the 50/1.4. There are lots of examples posted on DGrin as well as on my Smugmug site. That said, I haven't found it to be as useful on FF. There's a fair amount of distortion and it's wide. I'm thinking about the new 24/1.4 instead, but that's in a different category.

I still carry the 20mm with me most places, its just that it doesn't get as much use as it used to.

kris10jo

Do you mind if I take a peek at your smugmug site? It's not listed in your profile. I looked at the 24mm as well, but I was concerned that it wasn't going to be wide enough on my DX body. The difference between my 35mm and 50mm isn't much, and I wish I had looked at the 24mm instead of the 35mm....

michswiss wrote: »

I've had this lens for a while and think it works very well on a crop body. It became my preferred setup on the D300 for street shooting in lieu of the 50/1.4. There are lots of examples posted on DGrin as well as on my Smugmug site. That said, I haven't found it to be as useful on FF. There's a fair amount of distortion and it's wide. I'm thinking about the new 24/1.4 instead, but that's in a different category.

I still carry the 20mm with me most places, its just that it doesn't get as much use as it used to.

borrowlenses.com

People are generally very happy with this lens and it makes a great focal length on a crop body such as yours. We personally like wide angle primes as we find ourselves shooting wide whenever we take out a wide angle zoom, so it's nice to save a bit of weight.

kris10jo

Thank you for the input. The weight factor is definitely a plus for prime lenses.

borrowlenses.com wrote: »

People are generally very happy with this lens and it makes a great focal length on a crop body such as yours. We personally like wide angle primes as we find ourselves shooting wide whenever we take out a wide angle zoom, so it's nice to save a bit of weight.

nightowlcat

D1h & 20mm f2.8 AF-D

michswiss

I'll post a couple of street samples using the 20mm with a D300 and D700 shortly. Fwiw, I think the 20mm is a very nice match for the D300. I'm still figuring it out with FF.

kris10jo

Thank you, nightowlcat, for posting these. They're great photos and super sharp!

michswiss, I look forward to your street samples with the different bodies. Thank you for taking the time!

I'm really starting to like this lens.

michswiss

D300 with 20mm f2.8
Here are a few with the D300 and 20mm f2.8.

1) ISO 400 1/80s f/4.0

2) ISO 400 1/250s f/8

3) ISO 1600 1/8s f/2.8

michswiss

D700 with 20mm
1) ISO 400 1/800 f/8

2) ISO 800 1/320 f/9

3) ISO3200 1/160 f/5.6

kris10jo

These are great. Thank you for sharing them!

Zerodog

I love mine. It is a killer lens. I stumbled upon one last winter and snatched it up. I took this photo and won a photo contest with it at a local outdoor shop. I have the 50 1.8 too. They are really different to use. I find the 20mm to be a lot easier to deal with on my 300s. To me, it sees what I see. VS. the 50 which seems to be too close a lot of the time.

Here are a few shots with the 20mm.
Winter contest winner:


North Carolina sunset:


Hawaii sunrise:


Product shot:

kris10jo

These are beatiful shots, and congratulations on the winning photo! Thanks for taking the time to post the photos.

I think I'm going to have to make the purchase.

reliance

Did you purchase this lens? would you recommend it for a d300

ThatCanonGuy

One of my family members has this and uses it on a D700. He really likes it for the price, and says you can make it look more wide-angle by geting low and shooting up (true with any lens). I'd say go for it

Unfortunately Canon's version is not as good as their 24 2.8.

kris10jo

Yes, I did end up buying the lens. It's super sharp, and I was very happy to have it, especially for travel.